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Monday, 17 November 2008

City Voices - Writer’s Day @ Hanley Library. November 15th.

Review andphoto by Steve Dean

Having enjoyed City Voices’ contribution to the Stoke Sounds launch back in August, it was a great pleasure to attend their open day in Hanley at the weekend, an event intended to showcase local writing talent. I have to say that I didn’t realise there were so many of them, and what a vast range of local talent they display. Their ‘leader’ Paul Williamson (pictured), a most genial chap, made me very welcome and all the members I spoke to offered great warmth and friendliness as I wandered from stand to stand.

There are really too many to name in entirety here, but those I spoke to included prolific children’s poet Daniel Tatton, who has written many poems since his first in March 2006 and his quirky style makes for some amusing and thought-provoking reading.

Jan Ryan has three published works, including ‘Baksheeshed’; a book dedicated to cleverly explaining some of Egypt’s mysteries in the form of a novel. A copy of which has actually been purchased by an Egyptian tourist guide.

Poet and treasurer Geoff Dulson explained that he is of the third generation of poets in his family, whilst Christine Rowley has written a novel, composed poetry and has released CDs of herself performing her own self-penned songs. Alan Myatt has written an autobiography called ‘Memories of a Blurton Boy’, which he has lavishly illustrated with his own watercolour images and has also published a book called ‘Neck End’, about the town of Longton, which he has written in collaboration with long-time Longton inhabitant and shopkeeper Ellis Bevan.

‘You Couldn’t Make it Up’ is the title of Dave Lee’s book of anecdotes concerning Stoke City football team, a title that speaks volumes in itself; and talking of volumes, ‘Time to be Heard!’ is the title of an anthology containing various works by most of the members and is fine introduction to what they are all about.

Meeting fortnightly in room 1 in Hanley library, City Voices cordially invites anybody with an interest in writing in any form to attend. They will be very pleased to see you. Just turn up at one of their meets or in the first instance message them through their website on www.cityvoices.co.uk

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Due to a change in circumstances, I’ll be taking roughly a month long sabbatical and will return with reviews, etc, in the New Year. Stoke Sounds will continue until then with the regular contributors.

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